Do you suffer from anxiety? The ability to cultivate a state of inner peace is important when managing stress. Symptoms of stress can affect your body, mind, thoughts, feelings, and behavior. Changes that only take a few mintues can improve your lifestyle, creating a positive effect on your health and wellbeing. Here are four tips on how to improve your habits, reduce your stress levels and create a sense of calmness in your daily life.
🌞 Morning Ritual. Develop a calm morning routine with five exhales. Regardless of what your thought process may be at the time of this exercise just breathe. Inhale through your nose and exhale through your mouth. Repeat this at least five times. Why? Because it will help you to relax by lowering the negative effects of stress hormones in your body, encourage full oxygen exchange and lower blood pressure.
🌺Think Positive. Allow yourself to build a structure for the day to move forward with. "This is going to be a good day!" Why? Because it empowers you and will create a foundation for your day. You will worry less, smile more, decrease depressed feelings, increase moods of happiness, success and good health.
👣 Afternoon Ritual. Enjoy some sun (with sunscreen)! Get up and stretch, go for a walk, listen to music, let the sun warm your body. Why? Our bodies produce vitamin D when exposed to sunlight. To maintain healthy vitamin D blood levels, aim to get 10–30 minutes of midday sunlight, several times per week. Sunlight will also help your brain release serotonin, which stabilizes your moods, lowers anxiety and depression, increase feelings of well-being,and happiness, improve digestion and increase your quality of sleep.
🙏 Nightly Ritual. Be Grateful. Appreciate yourself for improving your life everday. Appreciate your body for working the best it can. Appreciate your co-workers for their support and friendship. Appreciate your significant other for their support and generosity. Be kind, help others and be patient and understanding. Why? Because everyone is doing the best they can. No one is perfect. Gratitude will open doors to healthier relationships.
